Tara Smith's Multimedia Blog

What is a Slice of Life story? It's a piece about a small moment in your life. It can be a special moment or an ordinary one.

It doesn't have to have a problem or a plot.

It should have dialog (inner and outer) if possible. It should also have as much detail as possible.

Just think of something that's happened to you, recently or long ago, and write.

Two rules:
1. Your Slice of Life must be written first in your Writer's Notebook and then typed up here. Check the spelling - there is no spell check!
2. Your Slice of Life is due on Monday - both the notebook entry and the blog entry.
3. You must comment on at least three other Slices - every entry must have at least three comments. Writers like an audience! Choose different writers each time - that is how we learn to be better writers.

Here's a great example from another teacher who took part in a Slice of Life Writing Project with me last year; the story is true!!

The house wasn't just cold. It was absolutely freezing. I started the morning routine as usual, although I did make the coffee first, knowing that I'd need it soon to help me warm up.

I was looking forward to a quiet day at work. We were scheduled for a day of meetings--all the students had the day off. My own children, however, had a regular day of school, so I set to work waking them up and getting them ready.

My wife was driving all three kids with her this particular morning, so I helped get them all up, get them dressed, get them breakfast, get their coats, mittens, and hats on, and pack their back packs. Finally, it was time to head into the frigid outdoors.

My ride arrived as they were loading into the van. (I was kind enough to start it earlier, so it would be warm). A friend from work was taking me to work because the cold had been making it difficult to get my car started. I said good-bye to my shivering family and headed off to work.

"If we didn't have these meetings today, our school would have been canceled for sure," my ride stated as we drove off.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Didn't you watch TV this morning? Every school around is closed because of the cold."

"Oh no." I knew immediately that I had done all that work for nothing. I had forced my family into the cold and gotten them up before sunrise for nothing.

With one phone call I checked on their school. And then I made the call to someone who was sure to be unhappy.